Chapter 4 Intercultural Communication Barriers 第四章 跨文化交际障碍

Intercultural Communication Barriers Chapter 4 Intercultural Communication Barriers What sets us against one another is not our aims—they all come to the same thing—but our methods. —Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Text A: Emotional Problems as Barriers to Intercultural Communication 1. Anxiety and Uncertainty 2. Assuming similarity instead of difference

 Anxiety / Uncertainty Anxiety refers to the feeling of not knowing what one is expected to do, and focusing on that feeling and not being totally present in the communication transaction. Uncertainty refers to our cognitive inability to explain our own or others’ feelings and behaviors in interactions because of an ambiguous situation that evokes anxiety. Strategies to overcome anxiety and uncertainty: uncertainty reduction theory

 Assuming similarity instead of difference Assuming that a culture is similar to your own can cause you to ignore important differences and react in a negative way, thus causing conflict.

Chapter Outline Intercultural Communication Barriers Assuming Similarity Instead of Difference Ethnocentrism Vocabulary Equivalence Stereotyping Intercultural Communication Barriers Translation Problems Anxiety and Uncertainty Emotional Problems Prejudice Racism Reasons for the Persistence of Ethnocentrism, Stereotyping, Prejudice and Racism Idiomatic Equivalence Grammatical-Syntactical Equivalence Experiential Equivalence Conceptual Equivalence Attitudinal Problems

Attitudinal Problems as Barriers to Intercultural Communication Text B Attitudinal Problems as Barriers to Intercultural Communication 1. Ethnocentrism 2. Stereotyping 3. Prejudice 4. Racism 8

Ethnocentrism Ethnocentrism refers to negatively judging aspects of another culture by the standards of one’s own culture.

Stereotyping Stereotyping refers to the negative or positive judgments made about individuals based on any observable or believed group membership

Americans 美国人 All Americans own a gun and would use it Americans 美国人 All Americans own a gun and would use it. Society is plagued with violence and crime. Americans are all fat; they love McDonald's and KFC. Americans are not modest. They are conceited and smug about their wealth and power. They appreciate assertiveness and ambition.

British 英国人 polite, formal, conservative, reserved, proper, love tea always go to the pub after work talk about the weather drink lots of beer when they watch football.

 French romantic and drink wine constantly fond of good food artistic tasty in fashion  Germans serious diligent drink beer

Prejudice Prejudice refers to the irrational dislike, suspicion, or hatred of a particular group, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Racism Activity: Reflection Have you ever avoided physical contact with people from other races? If yes, why do you do so? 15

Racism Racism is any policy, practice, belief, or attitude that attributes characteristics or status to individuals based on their race.

Reasons for the persistence of ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice and racism Ethnocentrism, stereotypes, racism, prejudice continue to exist because of socialization and the apparent social, economic, and psychological benefits that come from it.

Chapter Outline Intercultural Communication Barriers Assuming Similarity Instead of Difference Ethnocentrism Vocabulary Equivalence Stereotyping Intercultural Communication Barriers Translation Problems Anxiety and Uncertainty Emotional Problems Prejudice Racism Reasons for the Persistence of Ethnocentrism, Stereotyping, Prejudice and Racism Idiomatic Equivalence Grammatical-Syntactical Equivalence Experiential Equivalence Conceptual Equivalence Attitudinal Problems

Text C Translation Problems as Language Barriers

▲ Pre-reading Task: Please translate the following items into Chinese or English and then compare your translations to the exact meanings conferred by the original expressions in either Chinese or English. Then discuss what problems you have in translating them. motel lucky dog landlord as wise as an owl 狗仗人势 集体主义 四小龙 嫦娥奔月 20

Electrolux Nothing sucks like an Electrolux

Translation Problems Include: Lack Of Idiomatic Equivalence Grammatical-Syntactical Equivalence Experiential Equivalence Conceptual Equivalence Vocabulary Equivalence 22

Lack of Vocabulary Equivalence yellow-bellied / yellow streak vs yellow movies 23

Lack of idiomatic equivalence The old man kicked the bucket. Break a leg! The money is just a drop in the ocean. Hold your horses. It’s raining cats and dogs. Read between the lines.

Lack of grammatical-syntactical equivalence plan a table / table a plan book a place / place a book lift a thumb / thumb a lift

Lack of experiential equivalence motel parliament Thanksgiving 炕 太极

Lack of conceptual equivalence freedom 自由 corruption pup’ae

Thank you!